On Sept. 8, 2023, 20-year-old singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album, “Guts.” After the immense popularity of her debut album about teenage angst, “Sour”, released in 2021, fans had high hopes for this album. Rodrigo told Apple Music that she wrote “Guts” about “the confusion that comes with becoming a young adult and figuring out your place in this world.”
“Guts” goes above and beyond the bar set by “Sour”, and we enjoyed many of the songs. The overall sound is catchy, appealing and versatile, with songs that relate to different emotions and subjects such as lost relationships, anger and adulting.
This album fits into the categories of rock and angry pop, with recurring themes of rage and revenge featured in many songs, such as “get him back!” and “ballad of a homeschooled girl.” It also addresses personal and sensitive topics such as heartbreak in “the grudge” and body image in “pretty isn’t pretty.”
The album has a good blend of fast-paced and upbeat songs with entertaining lyrics, and slow, heartfelt songs that seemed to come straight from Rodrigo’s soul. The album flowed smoothly and each song seemed to fit, especially between the first and second tracks where there is no break in between the songs. Some of our favorite tracks included “making the bed,” “vampire” and “the grudge.”
While we loved “Sour” and believed it was an impressive debut, “Guts” has a mature sound, discusses topics that are more adult and describes a time in her life in which she faces different setbacks from when she was a teenager. A line that resonated with us in “making the bed” is “Another day pretending I’m older than I am / Another perfect moment that doesn’t feel like mine.” This lyric helps embody the theme of growing up and becoming an adult, which appeared throughout the album. Rodrigo’s songwriting has clearly evolved; she’s offering new perspectives in self-discovery, personal growth and the complexities of navigating the world as a young adult.
“Guts” is definitely worth a listen, and Rodrigo’s songwriting continues to adapt and resonate with an audience that is growing alongside her. Her music is on an exciting path of growth, and we’re looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us in the future.
